100 to glide from High Rock

[TQ]

http://www.publicopiniononline.com/apps ... 0818/NEWS0
1/508180307/1002

Soaring and floating through the clouds, close to 100 hang gliders are
expected to swoop in this weekend as part of the 30th annual High Rock
Fly-in show at High Rock, Md., above Pen-Mar Park.
Although the event officially begins at 1 p.m. Friday, the most serious
flying likely will take place once the weekend starts, said Allen Sparks, a
member of the Maryland Hang Gliding Association and the Capitol Hang Gliding
and Para Gliding Association.
The Maryland Hang Gliding Association hosts the event in conjunction with
the Capitol Hang Gliding and Para Gliding Association.
"It's a social event for pilots,"
Sparks said. "We actually have pilots who travel in and come from other
places to fly off (High Rock)."
Nevertheless, spectators and people interested in learning more about the
sport are encouraged to stop by to learn more about hang gliding.
"We view (the event) as an opportunity to tell people about the sport," he
said, explaining that photographers and others with questions are welcome.
The history of the event is rooted in the help of one property owner, Emma
Jane Carbaugh, who has allowed hang gliders to use her 15 acres as a landing
area.
But the careful navigation of air space around the site has been an issue
because the High Rock site is near restricted military space.
A few times in the past, and particularly since Sept. 11, 2001, Sparks said
the air space has been off limits to gliders.
Still, High Rock is popular because launch sites are rare in the area and is
known among pilots as a challenging site.
In fact, the limited amount of running space requires assistance at take
off.
"It's something that's kind of exciting to people," Sparks said.
Ideal weather conditions usually include northwest winds between 5 and 15
mph, he said, although nothing short of heavy rain and winds will delay the
fly-in this year because many pilots already made other plans for the next
weekend.
On Saturday, flying will start at 9 a.m. and last until Sunday at sunset.
Pilot registration is $25, and the price covers an all-you-can eat dinner
with beer, a Saturday flying/camping donation, a bonfire and three raffle
tickets for prizes ranging from compact disks to a parachute discount,
according to the Web site.
The proceeds for the nonprofit event will help pay the dues for the two
flight clubs as well as help Carbaugh with medical bills, according to
Sparks.
In the end, there will be an effort to clean up graffiti on the rocks, which
runs near the Appalachian Trail. An overall clean-up of the site will take
place at the end of the day Sunday, he said.

[brianvh]

I'm here at the Spark's putting things in order. To condense the
response of the quoted entity, Sparky is not impressed with the careful
exactitude of the reporter, and renews his vows never to speak to a reporter
again. (we're like, paying Emma Jane's medical bills?)

Personally, I thought it had a better batting average than normal. Scrub
up to smile at the wuffos from 9 am saturday to sundown sunday. It's
gonna be flyable the whole time!

Brian Vant-Hull
301-646-1149

[Spark]

I absolutely being misquoted ... Each time that I have agreed to answer a journalist's questions, I have regretted it.

What I said was "We hope to see 100 pilots at the event" ... anyway ... you get the idea.

Perhaps, prior to future events (e.g. Pulpit), we could develop a standard press release and post them online.

'Nuf said.

Come on out to High Rock, support the future of Hang Gliding, and keeping High Rock open ... and be one of the 100!

http://www.publicopiniononline.com/apps ... 80307/1002

Soaring and floating through the clouds, close to 100 hang gliders are
expected to swoop in this weekend as part of the 30th annual High Rock
Fly-in show at High Rock, Md., above Pen-Mar Park ...